Parking-time meter



Jul 15, 1941.

F. 1. DL] PONT PARKING-TIME METER Filed April 14, 1939 i 4 Sheets-Sheet l Heir-zed? 0 11 21 2 flow W July 15, 1941. F. 1. DU PONT PARKING-TIME METER Filed April 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1111!... lllll wk Mm NR y 1941- F. l. DU PONT PARKING-TIME METER Filed April 14, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w nk FFczzzcz'sfaa Ema BY /d m .lY/T/VESS: 5 15 44 727:

July 15, 1941. F. I. DU PONT 9,

PARK-ING-TIME METER Filed April 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented July 15, 1941 PARKING-TIME METER Francis I. du Pont, Wilmington, Del., assignor to Delaware Chemical Engineering Company, Wil- -min ton, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application April 14, 1939, Serial No. 267,844

21 Claims.

My invention relates to a new and improved type of parking-time meter; more specifically an instrument bywhich the time during which an automobile may be parked in a busy street can be measured and compensation automatically exacted.

late years the principle has come to be recognized that when an automobilist uses the public streets to park his car and so interferes with the business on these streets, he should pay an amount based on the value of the parking privilege.

My invention provides a. simple and eflective way in which this can be done. Thus, the city can provide each resident automobile owner with a key which will fit any of the parking meters. Upon parking his car, the, automobillst inserts his key into the meter. If, within say, for example, 15 minutes, he wishes to leave, he can withdraw his key without depositing any money. The first 15 minutes is free. If he stays over 15 minutes, but less than, for example, 30 minutes,

he finds that he cannot withdraw his key without depositing cents. 30 minutes. but less than, for example, one hour, it will require a deposit of 5 cents plus cents in order to withdraw the key. If he stays one hour or longer, it will require 5 cents plus 10 cents plus cents in order to withdraw the key. The city, or any company to which the city may delegate the franchise, can sell the keys to automobile owners for, say, for example, $1.00 and each key can be marked with an identifying number.

The time periods and amounts given above are merely suggestive and can, of course, be varied according to how\busy the street may be.

Generally speaking, in the parking-time meter according to my invention, the insertion of a key into the meter winds a clock mechanism which automatically starts. The clock mechanism controls the actuation of means whereby the key is locked into the meter and coin controlled means are provided for releasing the key. The insertion of the key also causes the coins deposited by the last user to fall into a coin receiving box.

Having now indicated in a general way the nature and purpose of this invention, I will proceed to a detailed description of a preferred em- If he stays longer than bodiment thereof with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly in section, of a parking-time meter embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 22, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to that 01. Figure 2, with the key withdrawn.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side view, partly in section, showing details of construction of coin c'ontrolled mechanism.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 66, Figure 1.

Figure '7 is a sectional view on line 1-4, Fig. ure 6.

Figure 8 is a view, partly in section, of coin introducing guideways.

Figure 9 is a sectional view on line 9-4 Fi ure 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged top view of one of the coin introducing guideways.

Figure 11 is a view, partly in section, of clockwork mechanism.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the showing of Figure 11.

In the drawings i is the floor or bed plate which carries the mechanism. 2 indicates the sides or walls of the casing which houses the mechanism. 3 is the automobilists key, which is inserted through the keyhole 4, which aligns with a guideway IOI for the key. Upon insertion of the key it encounters the sliding carriage 5, which is pushed forward by a spring 6, acting on the carriage through gear l4, mounted on a shaft I02, which engages rack 13 on the carriage and which causes the carriage to resist the force of inserting the key. The key when fully en- .tered causes the carriage 5 to recede the full distance determined by the length of the key. If the key is not pushed all the way in, then the carriage actuated by the spring 6, which is tightened as the carriage recedes, will push the key out again. Thus, the key cannot be left part way in, but must be pushed home or it will spring out.

When the key is pushed all the way in it raises the dog 1, which is carried on an end of shaft 8, whose bearings are rigidly connected with the bed plate of the instrument. The dog 1, when the key is out, is kept down by the spring 9 acting on thelever I30 which is secured to the end of shaft 8 opposite to the dog l.- When the key is entered, it lifts the dog I which engages a latch 10 mounted on the carriage 5 and is pressed downward by the spring i l against a limiting stop I2 upon the carriage. The latch l0 yields as the dog I rises under the action of the key until the latch passes just over the end of the dog I when it snaps down with a ratchet-like effect into en- I gagement with the end of the dog I, as shown in Figure 2. The carriage is thus held in its fully receded position as long as the dog 1 is held up [by the end of the key 3. Upon withdrawing the key, the spring 9 causes the dog I to take its normal position releasing the latch I0. The carriage then actuated by the spring 6 moves forward following the key as it is withdrawn and assumes the position occupied before the insertion of the key.

The rack I3 on the carriage 5 and which engages the gear I4 rotatably mounted on shaft I02 acts to wind up a clock mechanism including a spring I9 and an escapernent mechanism I06.

Between the gear I4 and theclock mechanism is a friction clutch, which yields if the clock mechanism is wound up, thereby permitting the key to be fully inserted even if the clock spring cannot be further wound up.

The friction clutch consists of two members, member I5 loosely mounted on shaft I02 and frictionally connected with the gear wheel I4, and member I6 loosely mounted on shaft I02 and which carries a pawl II engaging a ratchet wheel I8 on a sleeve 43 mounted on shaft I02, which acts to wind the clock spring 13 carried on the sleeve 43. 20 is a second ratchet wheel on sleeve 43 adjacent to ratchet wheel I3, whose pawl 2I is mounted on the bed plate I of the instrument. One end of the spring I 3 is secured to a face of the ratchet wheel 20, while the other end is secured to a lug 40 on the shaft I02. The pawl 2| acts to hold the ratchet wheel 20, thus preventing the clock spring I 9 from unwinding except as it operates the escapement mechanism to be described hereinafter regardless of any movement of the gear wheel I4 as it is turned by the rack I3,

Referring now to the friction clutch comprising members I5, l6 which I have found satisfactory, in Figures 3 and 6, 80 is a circular piece of steel or spring brass cut at the point 3| and so made that it will grip the member I with a tension sufficient to insure the winding of the spring I9, but not so excessive as to require undue force to push in he key 3 if the spring I3 is already wound up. It is very important that the circular piece 80 be so held in member I by the projection 82, which is part of 80, that the rotation of member I5 when member I6 is stationary will tend to loosen the grip of 80 upon member I5. If it is held the other way then 80 will grip I6 so tight that it is nearly impossible for I5 to slide on IE. If the condition just mentioned is provided then the force by which I5 turns I6 will be constant and will depend on the tension with which 80 grips I6 and will not increase wih the resistance offered by the friction.

I have found that when I6, or that part of I5 which is gripped by 80, is made of hard wood, the performance is excellent. Alternatively, it could be made in a series of discs of leather clamped together and turned perfectly cylindrical by means of a lathe or in other form.

A coin receptacle 23 is provided with coin holding recesses 38, different sizes for coins of different values, adapted to receive coinsfrom chutes 4| communicating with coin insertion openings 40 in a wall 2 of the casing. The coin chutes 4| are provided with coin retaining flanges H. The faces of the flanges are, however, cut away for a distance above the recesses 33 as shown at I50, Fig. 8, to permit removal of coins from the 1'6- cesses 33 by means to be hereinafter described. As will be described, coins deposited through the openings 40 and havingpassed down the chutes 4I into the recesses 38 will be discharged therefrom when the key is inserted in the guideway Ill and, as will be described, the presence of coins in the recesses 38 will enable release of the key, through the medium of hand knob I20, after it has become locked in the guideway.

As the carriage 5 is pushed back by the key, it causes whatever coins are in the coin-holding recess 38 to fall into the coin box or receptacle 23 from which they can be from time to time collected. This is accomplished by the following mechanism, Upon the carriage 5 is a pawl 24 which is pressed upward by means of the spring 25, against a limiting stop 26. In the travel of the carriage as it is pushed back by the key, the pawl 24 encounters the single ratchet tooth on the cam 21 and causes the cam 21 to turn its shaft 28, whose bearings 28' are rigidly mounted on the bed plate I. When in the travel of the carriage 5 the pawl 24 has moved the cam through a certain definite angle, the tooth on the cam will have risen above and become free of the pawl 24 which has then passed beyond the cam. The cam 21 having performed its function, about to be described, returns to its original normal position. When the key is withdrawn and the carriage 5 moves forward, the latch passes backward over the ratchet tooth of the cam 21, yielding like any ratchet passing over the tooth of a ratchet wheel. Upon the shaft 28 are two levers 3|, whose purpose is to lift the member 33 which is capable of a limited vertical motion and carries three lugs 34, whose edges are inclined about 45 from the horizontal, These lugs project through three slots 31 in the coin receptacle 23 below the semi-circular recesses 30 designed to receive the coins from the guideways 4I after they are dropped through the coin insertion slots 40 in the top of the casing which houses the mechanism.

The guideways for the larger coins are distorted at an angle at a point in their extension, as shown at 38, Figures 9 and 10, in order to drop out small coins before they reach the coin actuated mech anism.

When the cam 21 is turned by the pawl 24, the member 33 rises and its projections dislodge any coins in the recesses 38 allowing them, in view of the cutting away of the faces of flanges H of the chutes 4I, to fall into the coin box 23.

The clock mechanism hereinbefore referred to is adapted to actuate shaft mechanism I02, upon which are loosely mouned the members I4, I5 and Hi.

The shaft I02 has one of its bearings at 46 and for the other bearing projects into the hub of a member 41 which is provided with a toothed periphery and is rigidly mounted on the shaft 35 of the triple cam 48. Rigidly mounted upon shaft I02 is the lug 43, which holds the end of the main spring I9, whose other end is held by the ratchet wheel 20, as has been described. Upon the sleeve 43 is rigidly fastened a stop member 45, whose purpose is to limit the rotation of shaft I02 under the-influence of the spring I 3 to one revolution, as that is all that is required for the operation of the triple cam 40,

When the spring I9 is wound up, the stop member 45 strikes the lug 49 at the point indicated in the drawing, and any further turning of the wheel I4 as the carriage 5 recedes ahead of key 3, will only cause friction member I5 to slip ber I5.

upon mem- The gear wheel 50, rigidly mounted upon the shaft I02, is connected through gearing I to an escapement mechanism I06 which can be of any form used for clocks, provided that it will start itself without the necessity for independently starting the balance wheel or pendulum I01.

When the spring I9 has been wound up, the pawl 2I of the ratchet wheel 20 holds the sleeve 43, the ratchet wheel' 20 and stop member 45 mounted thereon stationary, while the spring I9 causes the lug 49 and shaft I02, to which lug 49 is secured to make one revolution. The time of revolution is determined by the escapement.

As the carriage 5, moved by the insertion of the key 3, nears the end of its inward travel, a lug 5| upon the carriage 5, having an inclined surface, pushes the end of a lever 52 which carries a small roller to lessen friction. Lever 52 is mounted on a vertical shaft 53 and is pressed, by the spring 54, against the side of the carriage 5, its roller rolling upon the side of the carriage until it encounters the lug 5|. When lug 5I contacts the lever 52 and pushes it against the action of spring 54 the vertical shaft 53 is turned. The vertical shaft 53 carries another lever 55 provided at its free end with a roller which engages the sleeve 56 normally holding it back against the action of spring 51. The sleeve 56 is slidably mounted on shaft I02, permitting the member 56 to slide longitudinally of the shaft. A member I I5 secured to shaft I02 provides a fulcrur'n for a lever II6 connected by a link II1 to the member 56.

When the lever 55 moves as a result of the lug 5| actuating the lever 52 as the carriage'5 is moved inward, the sleeve .56 is released and the spring 51 causes it to move longitudinally, causing lever II6 to turn on its fulcrum to engage the toothed periphery of the member 41, whereupon the triple cam 48 begins to revolve with the shaft I02, which, as described, is rotated by the spring I9 under control of the escapement mechanism.

The triple cam 48 comprises three different cams which are fastened together in one piece. Each of these has circular cam surfaces of two diflerent radii, designated in the drawings as radius A and radius B. Rollers 83, carried by cam followers I08 formed by extensions of levers 59, 60 and 6|, which levers are connected to detents I09, are pressed against these cam surfaces by a spring 62. The length of time during which any of these levers remains in position to maintain the detent I09, to which it is connected, out of locking engagement with the key 3 depends upon the length of the cam having the radius A. When the cam has revolved to the point where the shortest curved surface having a radius A ends, the cam follower on the lever 59 snaps upward under the influence of its spring 62 and rides onthe curved surface of radius B. When this happens the detent I09 on the end of the lever 59 drops into one of the notches H0 in the key, as shown in Figure 2. The levers 59, 60 and 6| are fulcrumed in bearings II2 carried by the base I. If the cam 48 further revolves, with the passage of time, the levers 60 and SI act successively in the same Way and the key is locked in its guideway, by engagement of detents I09 on levers 60 and 6| in slots H0 in the key and cannot be withdrawn unless all three of :he levers are moved back to their normal posiion.

I will now describe the mechanism by which, with the aid of coins dropped into slots in the instrument, the levers are moved to normal position.

While the particular coins I mention, for illustrative purposes, are not the only ones which could be used, they seem to be the ones most likely to be needed and, therefore, the instrument is shown as constructed to "use these coins in the order mentioned. It has seemed also that three different kinds of coins would most likely meet the requirements and, therefore, I have shown a triple cam and three notches in the key. It is obvious, of course, that a larger or smaller number could be used.

The coin holder 23 is mounted on a slide I40 adapted to slide in guides MI, is normally held by the spring 63 against the outer wall of the casing of the instrument and a glass window 64 permits the coins dropped in by the last user of the instrument to be seen until, by the insertion of a key by the next user, they are dislodged as has been described. The coin holder 23 can be moved horizontally for a certain distance against the action of spring 63 by the rod 68 secured to the slide I40 which terminates in a hand knob I20 outside the wall of the instrument casing.

Located opposite to the semi-circular coin receiving recesses 38 in the coin holder 23 are three rods 65, 66 and 61. These are mounted so that they can move longitudinally and if a coin or coins are in the coin holder, the flat surface of the coin or coins will, upon pulling the knob on the rod 60 and moving the coin holder horizontally, move one or all of the rods 65, 66 and 61, but if no coin is in the semicircular recesses of the coin holder 23, then, since there is nothing to move the rods 65, 66 and 61, no mechanism is operated when the knob on rod 68 is pulled.

If one or more coins are in the coin recesses 38, then upon pulling the knob on the rod 68, the rods 65, 66 and 61, or any one or two of them, depending upon the number of coins, will push one or more of the levers 69, 10, II, which, by means of the shafts 12, 13, 14 will cause one or more of the levers 15, 16, 11 to depress one or more of the levers 59, 60, 6| and lift one or more of the detents I09 out of the slots H0 in the key, permitting the same to be removed from the instrument.

It is necessary to provide that the triple cam 48 shall always start moving from a zero point; in

order, that the. times for the detents dropping.

into the slots in the key 3 shall always be according to the predetermined scheme. This is taken care of by having a spring 18 very much weaker than the main clock spring I9, but strong enough to insure that when the members 56-41 release the cam it will return to its normal position which is determined by the stop 19. An indicator 86 indicates the position of the triple cam 48.

There are several details of this instrument which require more particular description. These are the main spring I9 of the clock mechanism, the spring 6, which causes the carriage 5 to follow the key 3 as it is withdrawn, and the spring 18 M which causes the cam 40 to return to its' zero position after being released, also the friction members I5 and I6, the purpose of which has been explained.

The three springs above mentioned should, in order that the mechanism may work well and with certainty, have a tension at the beginning of their path of action not too much greater than the tension at theend of their path of action. To accomplish this with a longitudinally stretched spiral spring is not practical as it would require a spring of excessive length. I prefer a spring like that of an ordinary window shade roller. I have found thatin the case of the main clock spring I!) if this be wound up five complete revolutions and only permitted to function through one revolution, then the conditions are entirely favorable.

At the beginning of the path of action of this spring it will have the tension due to five turns of winding and at the end will have the tension due to four turns of winding. The same should apply to the other springs mentioned above.

It has been pointed out that in order to provide that the triple cam 48 shall return to its zero point when the key 3 is withdrawn, the spring 18 shall be much weaker than the main clock spring H. I have found it possible to arrange the springs this way so that the machine functions perfectly, but I think it well to mention an arrangement which will insure the desired performance even if there is not quite so great a difference between the tension of the main clock spring 19 and the spring 18.

The cam followers 108 on the levers 59, ii, if may each be provided with a small roller, as shown, which will roll upon the curved surfaces of the cam 48. Each roller 83 projects only slightly above the cam follower as shown and is positioned close to the end 84 of the cam follower. The reason for this is that it is desirable that the levers 59. 6!], i shall snap upward sharply as soon as the end of each curved surface of radius A is reached and the slight interval of rubbing friction when the end of any curved surface of the larger radius on the cam 48 passes the wheel 83, but has not yet passed the corner 84 of the lug, will make no difference.

If the anti-friction devices just described are provided, the cam 48, as soon as the clutch member 56 is pushed back from the clutch member 41 by the means already described, will snap back to its zero position under the influence of a very weak spring 18 even if the lugs on one or two of the levers are riding on the curved surface of the cam.

As has been mentioned, the escapement which determines the time of revolution of the cam 48 must be of the kind that will start itself as soon as it feels the pressure of the main clock spring Hi. This kind of escapement is well known to clock makers and is used to ring the alarm on alarm clocks.

As will now be obvious, when one parks his car in front of a meter in accordance with this in-- vention, the space being unoccupied, the guideway for reception of the key 3 will be clear, since the detents )9 will be in raised position under the influence of the three cams on radius A on the cam member 48. The spring I! may be more or less wound up. entirely run down or completely wound up. When the parker inserts the key 3 in the guideway, the carriage will be pushed back to the position shown in Figure 1 and the spring IE will be wound to the extent necessary to bring it to fully wound position. If the spring is partially wound when the key is inserted, its winding will be completed, but it will not be overwound due to the action of the friction clutch comprising the gear wheel [4 and the member l5, and the lever I IE will be engaged with the toothed wheel 41 connecting the cam member 48 with the shaft 102, which will be set in motion to rotate the cam member by the spring I! under control of the escapement I05.

Until the cam member has rotated sufficiently to release one of the detents ll! to locking engagement with the key, 1. e., until the cam follower of lever 59 leaves the shortest of the cams on radius A, the key may be withdrawn. After predetermined periods of time, as fifteen minutes, thirty minutes and one hour, regulated by the escapement mechanism, as in an ordinary'clock, the detents I" will successively engage the key by virtue of the followers on the levers 5!, il and il leaving their respective cams on the radius A.

Assuming that the time during which the key might be freely removed was fifteen minutes and that the total time of parking was an hour and fifteen minutes so that all three of the detents shown in Figure 1 were released to engage the key 3, the parker deposits into the three coin chutes through the apertures 40 say, for example, five, ten and twenty-five cents. The coins falling in the coin chutes engage in the coin recesses 38. The parker then pulls the rod 68 by grasping and pulling upon the knob I 20. Such results in drawing the coin receptacle 23 forward, the rods 65, G6 and 61 are moved by contact with the coins in the movement of the receptacle, effect depression of the levers 59, i0 and SI, through the medium of levers 69, 18 and TI, shafts I2, 13 and 14 and levers l5, l6 and '!I, thus raising the detents I09 out of engagement with the key, which may then be freely withdrawn. On withdrawal of the key, the dog 1 falls and the carriage moves forward under the influence of spring 6. The forward movement of the carriage releases lever 52, which, under the influence of spring 54, moves to release the lever HG from the toothed wheel 41. The cam 48 is then returned to its initial position by a spring 18 and the cam followers of levers 59, in and GI are returned to engagement with the surface on radius B by springs 62.

On insertion of a key into the device by a sub sequent parker, when the carriage is pushed back by the key, coins deposited in the recesses 38 of the coin receptacle are discharged from the recesses 38 by the lugs 34, which are raised in the slots 31 by the rotation of shaft 28, to which they are attached by levers 3|, by the effect of pawl 24 on cam 21 in the backward movement of the carriage.

As will now be observed, this invention from the broad standpoint relates to a packing-time meter comprising an element or device adapted to be located at a locus for parking, the element or device being adapted for the reception of a portable element, as a key. The device is so constructed that when the portable element or key is entered into it means are rendered operable or are set in operation whereby after a lapse of time the portable element or key is secured or locked in the element or device, further means being provided whereby through the medium of a coin or coins the portable element or key may be released for withdrawal from the element or device.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended that this invention shall be limited to the particular details of construction described above in connection with the above description of a preferred embodiment for illustrative purposes, since it will be obvious that various modification in detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the reception of a portable element, a plurality of locking means, a prime mover, means forming operative connection between said prime mover and said locking means respectively. the prime mover being adapted to be rendered operable by the portable element on its entry into the guideway to cause said locking means respectively to successively engage the portable element after the lapse of successive periods of time and coin controlled means for releasing said locking means.

2. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the reception of a portable element, a plurality of locking means, a prime mover, means forming operative connection between said prime mover and said locking means respectively, the prime mover being adapted to be rendered operable by the portable element on its entry into the guideway to cause said locking means respectively to successively engage the portable element after the. lapse of successive periods of time and means rendered operable by coins of diil'erent values for releasing said locking means respectively.

3 In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the reception of a portable element, a detent movable into and out oi position to engage said portable element to lock it in said guideway, a cam adapted to control said detent, spring actuated mechanism for driving said cam from an initial position in which said detent will be clear of said portable element to a position in which said detent may engage said portable element, means in the path of said portable element in traversing said guideway to render said spring actuated mechanism operable by said portable element, coin controlled means for releasing said detent from engagement with said portable element thereby permitting withdrawal of said portable element from the guideway and means operable on withdrawal of said portable element from the guideway to return said cam to its initial position.

4. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the reception of a portable key, a clockwork mechanism including a spring, means operable by the key as it traverses the guideway to efiect a winding of said spring, locking means for locking the key in the guideway, means operated by said clockwork mechanism for actuating said locking means, means actuated by the key on traversing said guideway for rendering said clockwork mechanism operable to operate said locking means and means for releasing said locking means.

5. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the reception of a key,

a clockwork mechanism including a spring, means adapted to be displaced as the key traverses the guideway, means including a friction clutch and affording a connection between said means adapted to be displaced by the key and said spring for effecting winding of said spring as said means adapted to be displaced by thekey is displaced by the key, means for locking said key in the guideway, cam means actuated by said clockwork mechanism for controlling said locking means, means for releasing said locking means, coin controlled means for actuating said releasing means and means operable on withdrawal of the key from the guideway for returning said cam means to initial position.

6. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising means for the reception of a. portable element, mechanical means for storing energy, means actuated by insertion of the portable element in said means for its reception for transmitting energy to said means for storing energy, means rendered operable under the influence of energy i'nom said means for storing energy to secure the portable element to the fixed element when the portable element is fully entered in said means for its reception and means for releasing the portable element and permitting its withdrawal from said means for its reception.

7. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising means for the reception of a portable element, a tension member, means actuated by insertion of the portable element in said means for its reception for placing the tension member under tension, securing means rendered operable by the tension member when under tension for locking the portable element to the fixed element when the portable element is fully entered in said means for its reception and means for re leasing the portable element and permitting its withdrawal from said means for its reception.

8. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising means for the reception of a portable element, a tension member, means actuated by the portable element for placing the tension member under tension, securing means rendered operable by the tension member when under tension for locking the portable element to the fixed element when the portable element is fully entered in said means for its reception, means operatively connected with said tension member for delaying the operation of said securing means and means for releasing the portable element and permitting its withdrawal from said means for its reception.

9. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the insertion of a portable element, means adapted to resist entry oi the portable element into the guideway, looking means operable only when the portable element is fully entered in the guideway to render said means adapted to resist entry of the portable element into the guideway inoperative, means for storing energy, means operable by the portable element in its entry into the guideway for transmitting energy to said means for storing energy, means rendered operable under the influence of energy from said means for storing energy when the portable element is fully entered in the guide way to secure the portable element to the fixed element and means for releasing the portable element.

10. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the insertion of a portable element, means adapted to resist insertion of the portable element into the guideway, locking means operable only when the portable element is fully entered in the guideway to render said means adapted to resist entry of the portable element into the guideway inoperative, means for storing energy, means operable by the portable element in its insertion into the guideway for transmitting energy to said means for storing energy, means including an escapement mechanism controlled by the portable element and rendered operable by said means for storing energy for locking the portable element to the fixed element when the portable element is fully entered in said guideway and means for releasing the portable element.

11. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the insertion of a portable element, means adapted to resist insertion of the portable element into the guideway, locking means operable only when the portable element is fully entered in the guideway to render said means adapted to resist entry of the portable element into the guideway inoperative, means for storing energy, means operable by the portable element in its entry into the guideway for transmitting energy to said means for storing energy, means controlled by the portable element and rendered operable by said means ior storing energy for locking the portable element to the fixed element when the portable element is fully entered in said guideway, means operatively connected to said means for storing energy for delaying the operation of said last mentioned means and coin controlled means for releasing said means for locking the portable element to the fixed element.

12. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway for the insertion of a portable element, a tension member arranged to be put under tension by insertion of the portable element into the guideway, means controlled by the portable element and rendered operable by said tension means only when the portable element is fully entered in the guideway for locking the portable element to the fixed element and means for releasing the portable element to permit its withdrawal from the guideway.

13. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising means for the reception of a portable element, mechanical means for storing energy, means actuated by the portable element for transmitting energy to said means for storing energy and means rendered operable under the influence of energy from said means for storing energy to secure the portable element to the fixed element, means operably connected with said means for storing energy for delaying the operation of said securing means and means for releasing the portable element.

14. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising means for the reception of a portable element, mechanical means for storing energy, means controlled by the portable element for transmitting energy to said means for storing energy and a plurality of means rendered operable successively under the influence of energy from said means for storing energy to secure the portable element to the fixed element when the portable element is fully entered in said means for its reception and means for releasing the portable element.

15. In a parking-time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking and comprising a guideway .for the insertion of a portable element, a tension member arranged to be put under tension by insertion of the portable element into the guideway, a plurality of means controlled by the portable element and rendered operable successively by said tension means only when the portable element is fully entered in the guideway for locking the portable element to the fixed element and means for releasing the portable element to permit its withdrawal from the guideway.

16. In a parking time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking comprising a guideway for the reception of a key, a movable carriage in the path of a key entering the guideway, tension means operative on the carriage and tending to resist movement thereof when a key is entered in the guideway, a latch arranged to be positioned by a key when fully entered in the guideway to prevent movement of the carriage, said latch being arranged to be released by withdrawal of the key, a prime mover, locking means for locking a key fully entered in said guideway, means aiiording an operative connection between said prime mover and said locking means and adapted to be rendered operative only when the above mentioned latch is positioned to prevent movement of the carriage and coin controlled mechanism for releasing said locking means.

17. In a parking time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking comprising a guideway for the reception of a key, a movable carriage in the path of a key entering the guideway, tension means operative on the carriage and tending to resist movement thereof when a key is entered in the guideway, a latch adapted to be positioned by a key when fully entered in the guideway to prevent movement of the carriage, a spring, means affording an operative connection between said spring and said carriage whereby when said carriage is moved by the entry of a key into said guideway said spring will be tensioned, locking means for locking a key fully entered in said guideway, an operative connection including a normally dis? engaged clutch between said spring and said locking means, means carried by the carriage for engaging said clutch when a key is fully entered in said guideway to render said locking means operable by said spring and means for releasing said locking means.

18. In a parking time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking comprising a guideway for the reception of a key,

- a movable carriage in the path of a key entering the guideway, tension means operative on the carriage and tending to resist movement thereof when a key is entered in the guideway, a latch adapted to be positioned by a key when fully entered in the guideway to prevent movement of the carriage, a spring, means ail'ording an operative connection between said spring and said carriage whereby when said carriage is moved by the entry of a key into said guideway said spring will be tensioned, a plurality of separate locking means for locking a key fully entered in said guideway, operative connection, including a plurality of rotatable cams of diflerent length arranged to control said locking means respectively, between said spring and said locking means and adapted to be rendered operative when a key is fully entered in said guideway to rotate said cams and engage said locking means successively with the key and means for releasing said locking means.

19. In a parking time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking comprising a guideway for the reception of a key, a movable carriage in the path of a key entering the guideway, tension means operative on the carriage and tending to resist movement thereo! when a key is entered in the guideway, a latch adapted to be positioned by a key when fully entered in the guideway to prevent movement of the carriage, a spring, means affording an operative connection between said spring and said carriage whereby when said carriage is moved by the entry of a key into said guideway saidspring will be tensioned, a plurality of separate locking means for looking a key fully entered in said guideway, operative connection, including an escapement mechanism and a plurality of rotatable cams of different length arranged to control said locking means respectively, between said spring and said locking means and rendered operative when a key is iully entered in said guideway to rotate said cams, at a rate controlled by said escapement mechanism, to engage said ,locking means successively with the key and means'for releasing said locking means.

20. In a parking time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking comprising a guideway for the reception of a key, a movable carriage in the path of a key entering the guideway, tension means operative on the carriage and tending to resist movement thereof when a key is entered in the guideway, a latch adapted to bepositioned by a key when fully entered in the guideway to prevent movement of the carriage, a spring, means including friction members affording an operative connection between said spring and said carriage whereby locking means operable -by said spring when a key is fully enteredin said guideway and means for releasing said locking means.

21. In a parking time meter an element adapted to be fixedly located at a locus for parking comprising a guideway for the reception or a key,

said spring will be tensioned, a plurality of separate locking means for looking a key fully entered in said guideway, an operative connectiomineluding a normally disengaged clutch and a plurality of rotatable cams of different length arranged to control said locking means respectively, between said spring and said locking means, means carried by the carriage to efl'ect engagement of said clutch when a key is fully entered in said guideway to eifect rotation of said cams to engage said locking means successively with the key, means for-releasing said locking means, means for disengaging said clutch on withdrawal oi. the key from the guideway and tension means operatively connected with said cams and adapted to return them to an initial position when said clutch is disengaged.

FRANCIS I. DU PONT. 

